Lawmakers Summon NNPC GMD Over Sacked Workers

The National Assembly has summoned the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kolo Kyari to appear in person over the various issues raised by the Support Staff of Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company,WRPC and the host communities.

A copy of the letter which our National Assembly Correspondent was privy to, was dated Monday 13th July, 2020.

The invitation letter was signed by the chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions.

The letter stated that the committee will use available instruments to compel the GMD to appear before it if needed, to answer critical questions bordering on the sacking of it’s workers and the demand for conversion of the casual workers made by the host communities to NNPC in Warri Delta State.

The summons dated 28th July 2020, read as:”That the committee shall without any hesitation invoke it’s powers as is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended, to compel appearance of all relevant Authority and person in NNPC who have capacity and authority to take decision on this matter.

“Failure to attend the hearing, the committee will determined the case in your absence and compel NNPC management to carry out the decision of the house”.

It was gathered that in February 6th 2020 the committee leadership had ordered that NNPC management convert the support staff who have worked with them as causals for periods ranging from 5 to 15 years.

The GMD of the NNPC, who was duly represented by the GGM HR and GGM PAD agreed to work on the directives of the house within two weeks given to them and get back to the Committee to report back the level to which they have implemented the directives which was on 19th of February 2020.

A source at the National Assembly who pleaded anonymity submitted that NNPC management was treating the directives of the Committee with disdain and undermining the Honorable House and its leadership, possibly because of their behind the scene ‘romance’ with some few top members of the Committee which is not a good sign for such a case brought before the National Assembly.

When contacted to seek their opinion on the issue, the GMD of NNPC was not responding to calls put through to his personal telephone lines as at the time of filing this report.